Obama talks gas prices

Posted: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 3:16 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC/NJ’s Aswini Anburajan
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. -- As Congress holds hearings on Capitol Hill, demanding to know why oil and gas companies like Exxon-Mobil and Chevron are earning billions as the price of gas creeps upward, Obama made some promises of his own on how he would cut the cost of fuel.

"Gas prices are killing folks," Obama said. "I got an email from a friend of mine; it says, just in case you're not living in the real world, being driven around by Secret Service, it just cost me $85 to fill up my tank."

Referencing his Pennsylvania ad, which features Obama in at a gas station decrying the price of gas, Obama said Exxon-Mobil had made $11 billion in profits just last month. In Pennsylvania, according to the Web site, PennsylvaniaGasPrices.com, the average price of gas is $3.28 a gallon. One year ago, it was $2.69 per gallon.

"They have been in fat city for a long time," Obama said of Exxon and other oil and gas companies. "They are not necessarily putting that money into refinery capacity, which could potentially relieve some of the bottlenecks in our gasoline supply. And so that is something we have to go after. I think we can go after the windfall profits of some of these companies.”

Obama, a proponent of ethanol, said the country needed to do more to increase production and incorporate ethanol that used sugarcane not just corn. He also said that the internal combustible engine had seen its last days.

"We should also be investing in new technologies,” he said, “so we can replace the internal combustible engine, which has served us well, but it’s time for us to move on, because we want to get rid of fossil fuels.”

And in keeping with his campaign message, he offered a “hopeful” example of how the U.S. would find a way to meet its energy needs.

"When John F. Kennedy said we were going to the moon, the engineers and all those guys with the pocket protectors and the glasses at NASA, they all pulled out their slide rulers and said, 'How are we going to do that?’ “ Obama said. "They didn't know how it was going to get done. But once we set a clear goal and Americans buy into that goal, then nothing can stop us. The same is true on energy."

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Comments

The US needs to nationalize all the oil companies, and make them one single gov't owned entity. Watch our gas prices fall!

TheQueenBee (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 3:22 PM)

But I thought invading Iraq would mean the US gets all their cheap oil, and thus, oil and gas were to be cheap here too. Another Bush lie McCain will continue.

Pat Huntington NY (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 3:23 PM)

http://twocanpete.blogspot.com/
Instead of spending $720 million a day in Iraq we need a new Manhattan Project. Only this time instead of building a bomb we need to design and implement a whole new energy paradigm.

twocanpete (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 3:24 PM)

To Clinton Supporters, let me ask you something. Why does it just kill you to see that Obama is running for president? All in all, no one ever mentions about his positions on the issues or something he lacks and if you are going to scrutinize him on a personal level, then it is fair to scrutinize Hillary on a personal level as well. You can not ignore the baggage that Hillary has and only focus on the baggage the Obama has. If you had spent this energy against Bush in 2004, who by the way is republican, we would have had Kerry as our President. The pattern I see all the time is that almost every Clinton supporter blogs negatively about their hate for Obama and ends their post with Go Hillary while Obama supporters share their reasons for supporting Obama and ends with Go Obama. If it makes you uncomfortable to list any good thing about Clinton, then why are you supporting her? Or is it an unresolved hatred for a mixed race man that gets to you. His mother was white you know, and it helps you ease your mind and calm you down, you can claim that his integrity and wisdom comes from his mother’s side. That way, in your pathetic mind, you do not have to go see a shrink to help you resolve some issues. If you feel that I am absolutely wrong about you, then please list the things that makes Clinton your choice. Remember, she got busted on her experience claim. Footage actually showed that she had a terrible dream where snipers were shooting at her in Bosnia. I know, I know, I absolutely know that it will kill you if you don’t include Obama bashing but just try. Just for once, try. Hey, maybe you might actually convince me to vote for her. Wouldn’t that be awesome?

Cmon in PA (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 3:27 PM)

While I strongly support Obama, the one thing that none of the candidates or the media discusses is the 800 pound elephant in the room, peak oil. Global supplies have peaked and prices will go up until we find an alternative to oil. This is a simple fact of life that all political spin or the media crying about it in the world won't change.

Allen Hussein (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 3:29 PM)

While watching Norah O'Donnel on MSNBC Live, when she was discussing Hillary's campaign Funds, "or lack thereof", with Pa's Senator--and tried to make Jest by saying Hillary could'nt pay her bills--But got no reply from the Pa Senator---she asked him if they were having audio problems---THE PA SENATOR HEARD YOU NORAH, HE JUST DID'T THINK IT WAS FUNNY--DAH...AND DECIDED IT DIDN'T NEED A RESPONSE. AND NEITHER DO I.

ge``pennsylvania (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 3:34 PM)

That is a mark of a true leader. Describe the task and vision and let good people surprise you with the results! Instead of Clinton promising millions of jobs, just like the non-existant 200,000 Upstate New York jobs she promised in 2000, Barack is outlining the future.

It wouldn't surprise me to see the Clintons making millions on hedge funds and commodity trading deals.
Maybe some offshore tax shelters, too?
If we could just examine those tax returns and the Presidential Library donor lists........Get Chelsea busy on the copy machine.

David Kolva, M.D. Oswego/Syracuse NY (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 3:38 PM)

What we really need to do is increase the U.S. supply of oil. We have close to the same number of gallons sitting under Alaska, Texas and Florida coast that Saudi Arabia has. Why do we care more about caribou and moss than those poor people being hit by the "credit crunch", "market crisis", and "housing meltdown." The people actually living in these areas, not the ecotourists who say oh how pretty and then don't have to figure out how to pay rent/utilities in an area where jobs are the most precious resource, are the ones who want this. Increase the amount of oil in circulation you lower prices. Supply and demand at the most basic level. We also would not be cowtowing to nations that have no affinity for us. How is this a bad thing for the American people?

Laura, Savannah Ga (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 3:39 PM)

The Saudi's aren't complaining. Nice work w.

JohnnyU, WA State (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 3:42 PM)

So how will you do that, as President, Mr. Obama? How will you spur all of this funding for these projects?

I'm curious to know, because last time I checked, the President is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces first, then enforcer of the laws passed by Congress and signed by him second. Last time I checked, Mr. Constitutional Law Expert, the President has NO WAY to allocate funds for such programs, or even set them up. If you wanted these to succeed, you'd stay in Congress where you could make a difference. So why would you leave a senate seat that is obviously not going to anyone else unless you move on the White House? Why would you leave the branch of the government that creates the laws and generates the funds for these projects? How will that help?

Do you think talking about theoretical goals will help more than writing effective bills? Or are you just in it for the bigger paycheck and the place in history? I already know the answer. In it to help people, yeah, right. The Obamas. They're the only ones you're in this to help.

Tired of this guy (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 3:44 PM)

The amount of oil cant "peak" until it has all been tapped. If we do not tap all the oil, the amount of oil we can pull out of the ground can not "peak." Oil is scarce because government policy forces it to be.

Open up ANWAR, let it specify in the contract w/ whatever company wants it that 30, 40 or 50% of the profits go to alternative energy research. The company at that point is allowed a share in the profits of whatever technology it comes up with. Win/Win, right??

Laura, Savannah, GA (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 3:44 PM)

It's nice to see that Barack Obama actually knows what gas costs us 'regular folks'. G.W.Bush wasn't aware of the price of gas when he was asked.

Whomever sent that e-mail to Barack needs to send a few to the White House.

http://thepajamapundit.com/

the Pajama Pundit (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 3:46 PM)

...And yet, somehow, Congress forgot---again---to put the CEOs of Big Oil under oath when they "grilled" them today...maybe they just used a GAS grill...

Class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 3:48 PM)

Yeah, filling up that bus must be a real drag.

At least he had the good sense to be thrifty, climb his brown behind up on that bus, and take care of his donars money. (That was for Ed Rendell's benefit).

You doubters threatening to take your vote out into the open, and give it to McCain, must love when the needle plunges toward 'EMPTY'.

Insanity.

Pulling for Obama '08

donna, pgh., pa. (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 3:50 PM)

In Calif gas prices are esseentially $4.00/ gal. Deisel is higher and the truckers are about to go on strike. Who's making the gouge money? Cheney, Bush and Halliburton, that's who. And don't forget the Saudi's, Clinton pals and business partners. Want a reality check?

http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home

Remeber who voted for the war and who didn't. Check out this link and you can see for yourself why gas prices are breaking the backs of the American people. Of Coors, food prices are also higher for the same reason. It costs more to deliver products to us. Get it? Vote McCain and it will continue to get worse for 100 years.

OlderBudWeiser, Calif (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 3:50 PM)

The rise in gas prices is part of the "perfect storm" of energy, culture, and population...

http://truthalert.net/The%20Perfect%20Storm%20of%20Energy%20Culture%20and%20Population.htm

Mike, Hermosa Beach, CA (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 3:52 PM)

Poor Hillary/Rocky/picked on girl/sniper fire target/media sabotaged/victim, victim, victim.

It's funny really because she is getting to be in the limelight every day with her Bubba hubby and her media sheltered daughter - an ALL expense paid roadshow! And yet she is not paying her expenses and victimizing the poor vendors and staffers.

Who is really the victim here? It seems like those who are loyal to her (Patty Soliz?)and work for her and pay for her. This latest fundraising will go toward nothing but getting her out of debt for her long, expensive, donut eating, luxury hotel staying, private chartered airline flying "look at me" campaign/attention seeking carnival.

Give her more!!! She demands it!!!! She deserves it !!!! She isn't done grabbing what is rightly hers!

Gary-Pittsburgh (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 3:54 PM)

Thank you, Twocanpete and Allen Hussein.
The very real "Peak Oil", must be addressed by creating a new energy paradigm. This is the first time I've seen anyone talk about this subject in months of reading the First Read posts. I'm supporting Obama because he's looking for new ways of thinking and doing things. The energy problems are urgent. we desperatly need to bring our smartest heads to the table and start brainstorming.

Bonnie (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 3:55 PM)

Good Management in a world economic down turn they are able to keep going and stay profitable. Imagine USA corporations not giving their business to other nations and making a profit by bargaining wages and material goods cots. Oh profit and on going business. Maybe we should change our business classes from being team orientated like the Japanese that we have given our business to and banks and investments into the Asian markets and keep it at home. A better return for T Bills and Bond investment in mortgage and Banks staying here like they constitution says they are supposed to to protect our dollar and investors. Amen.

Sharon Walker, Folsom, CA (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 3:56 PM)

The President does not control the cost of oil, OPEC sets the price, although we have a ton of oil off the East and West Coasts, it's liberals who do not want to drill more, production in the middle east peaked in 2005, thats it folks unless we open up the U.S. to more exploration the cost will only go up. There is only so much oil and demand is outstripping supply, Obama cannot fix the problem.

Thomas, Slidell, La (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 3:59 PM)

This is odd, I just happened to look up sore-loser in the dictionary today. Next to that entry was a picture of Hillary Clinton. And it read, "A candidate who will do anything to win, including sacrificing the unity and health of his or her own party." It was funny that sub-text also stated this, "Followers likewise will say or do anything negative and hateful about other candidates(same party only)in feeble attempts to bring down a superior candidate in hopes to uplift their own." I was like wow, I didn't know they considered Hillary for her own definition in the New Unabridged Dictionary of 2008. I used to have respect for Hillary, but her true colors are out. Much of the galvanized Democratic voter turnout has been due to Obama. If Hillary has the nomination, many people will stay at home, and this is a Republican's wet dream. No wonder they are showing up in record numbers to vote the OPPOSITE party to support Hillary. They know she can't win.

Will, VaBeach, VA (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 3:59 PM)

Sen. Obama stated in a March 20 speech in WV that the war in Iraq alone costs each U.S. household $100 a MONTH...more than most families pay for cable TV, which averages $58 a month. (Politifact.com)

What a despicable use of our taxpayer dollars.

And on top of that, we're still dependent on an expensive, dirty, antiquated technology (oil) to fuel our high tech vehicles. We're too smart by half, aren't we?

Gail, TN (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 3:59 PM)

"Internal combustible engine". "Slide rulers". That says it all. If you don't get it, then you are too stupid to vote.

The reason gasoline is so high is because we use so much of it. The answer is not to produce more. The answer is to use less. I agree that we need new technology, but I still won't vote for Obama.

A. Taxpayer (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 4:01 PM)

Laura, Savannah Ga (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 3:39 PM)

-------------
Destruction of the environment and elimination of species is not only immoral, against christian teaching, but it also self-destructive since it will mean the end of human civilization...it is all interconnected. I know...you must be republican...can't understand more than a 3 word sloga.

Pat Huntington NY (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 4:07 PM)

Maybe we should start drilling for oil on our own land instead of buying it from other countries. There has to be a way in all of our knowledge that we can drill for oil safely. Ethanol is not the answer, its as toxic and regular gasoline and we are years away from an electric car (you can not even take a family trip without having to stop and charge a batter.) The Iraq war has so little to do with the price of oil, that is a media driven issue to promote the liberal agenda.

Michigan (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 4:09 PM)

Cmon in PA: I think you have it backwards. This board is filled with Obama supporters who usually just fill the board with posts about their hate for Hillary. And it's classic Obama-supporter language to throw that race card in...is it that unfathomable to believe that someone might choose not to support Obama for reasons other than latent racist attitudes toward a "mixed race man." I can assure you that race has absolutely nothing to do with my decision to support Hillary. You don't give your fellow democrats much credit, now do you? I guess I could flip it on you and say that you refuse to support Hillary because of her status as female, and then accuse you of sexism. But I won't go there, and neither should you.

Now, to answer your question, I support Hillary because she has been a powerful role model in my life. I am a young twenty-something with a master's degree and a law degree (coming in May), and I have a passion for public health and health policy. I admire Hillary's fight for universal health care in the 1990s (which you and your fellow Obama supporters will undoubtedly note her failure in that endeavour and ignore the powerful lobbies she was up against...and the fact that every other time universal health care has been attempted - first by none other than Harry Truman - it likewise failed due to the same powerful lobbying forces). Hillary is brilliant, and she blows Obama out of the water in the debates and on policy. Obama is a very inspirational figure, I'll admit, and I enjoyed his book very much. However, due to the above-stated reasons, my vote was (and will be) for Hillary.

Jill F., Tulsa, OK (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 4:10 PM)

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